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(photo credit: www.stewartphillip.ca)APTN National NewsVANCOUVER–First Nations communities in B.C. are facing “powerful forces” looking to “exploit the land for profit,” said veteran First Nations leader Grand Chief Stewart Phillip Thursday in a victory speech after retaining the post of president for the Union of BC Indian Chiefs during the organization’s annual general assembly.Phillip beat his only rival, Splats’in First Nation Chief Wayne Christian, 59 votes to 36 votes, to win the post for a fifth time.Phillip enters his fifth term at the head of the UBCIC during a tumultuous time in relations between First Nations and the British Columbia government as interest in the revenue and resource development of the province collide with the assertion of Aboriginal and title rights by First Nations communities.The most prominent looming conflict centres on Taseko Mine’s proposed copper and gold mine which is awaiting federal approval. The mine is strongly opposed by the Tsilhqot’in Nation because it threatens to destroy a lake sacred to the community.In his victory speech, Phillip said the time for talking had ended and the time for action had arrived.“Our old leaders used to talk about the Indian movement and I truly believe we have to get back to that…we are up against powerful forces that have completely different values…the other side is a corporate agenda. It is all about exploiting the land for profit and that is the dynamic we bring our children up in,” said Phillip. “We have to stand up with each other so we may be great again. So whatever communities take a stand, I always believe we have to be there at your side so they know they are not alone.“We can’t afford to continue to talk about these things, we have to act,” he said.Phillip also received the support of Christian who warned against issuing threats of blockades and violence in the heat of the moment.“Remember this when we do that that the first people impacted are our children and our schools. The second is the people on the streets…so we must be mindful when we speak in the public,” said Christian. “But to say we are going to promote violence, it is not going to help us in the long run.”UBCIC represents 99 First Nations communities across B.C.read more

Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsAppProvidenciales, 23 Oct 2014 – Governor Peter Beckingham recently marked one year in office, and during my one on one with His Excellency we also addressed complaints from the electorate that the Rufus Ewing led administration is out of touch, sometimes inaccessible. The Governor responded to my question about his role in ensuring a government satisfactorily governs. QUOTE. The one year governor said he believes the relationship with the PNP Administration is excellent. QUOTE. The Official Opposition is also getting face time with the Governor; recently a two hour meeting was had with the PDM. QUOTE. Recommended for you Olive branch extended by Opposition Leader, says it is time for Turks and Caicos leaders to unite Related Items:governor peter beckingham, Pdm, pnp TCI Country Leaders condemn vicious memes Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsApp Opposition Leader responds to Throne Speech 11 days later; says PDM Govt plan puts TCI in ‘deep doo doo’read more

Obaidul Quader. File PhotoThe chief election commissioner, KM Nurul Huda, has explained to Awami League why he called former president Ziaur Rahman the founder of multiparty democracy in the country.CEC made the explanation during a dialogue between the election commission and the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) at the commission secretariat at Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader told newsmen after the talks.He, however, said the AL would not disclose the explanation.Read more: Zia restored multi-party democracy: CEC HudaDuring EC’s talks with AL’s primary rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) earlier on 16 October, CEC KM Nurul Huda who was appointed during this regime of AL had said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman restored multiparty democracy in the country.The CEC’s statement apparently irked AL leaders and its allies.Talking to newsmen on Monday, AL general secretary Quader had said the CEC’s remark that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman restored multiparty democracy in the country might be a tactic to bring the party to elections.He also had said the party would seek explanation from the CEC during its today’s talks.”We got the explanation, but won’t disclose it. If necessary, the election commission will give the explanation,” said Obaidul Quader on Wednesday after talks with EC.Read more: ‘AL to know details of CEC’s Zia remark during its meet with EC’A 21-member Awami League delegation, led by Quader, joined the electoral talks held with chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.“Today’s remarks of the chief election commissioner, other commissioners and the secretary were positive. The dialogue with the election commission is fruitful,” he added.Awami League placed an 11-point proposal, including introduction of the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), for holding the next general election in a credible manner.In the dialogue that lasted for nearly two hours and 15 minutes, the ruling party also proposed submission of the list of polling agents to presiding officers and assistant presiding officers three days before the polling day.Dwelling on deployment of military troops during the elections, the AL said Sections 129-131 of the Code of Criminal Procedure aka CrPC and the section titled ‘In Aid To Civil Power’ of the rules on army have described well when the military troops can be deployed and in which context.read more

Ferry Service. Prothom Alo file photoFerry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route in Padma River remained suspended since early Wednesday due to dense fog, reports UNB.The authorities of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) suspended the ferry services on the route from 6:00am due to poor visibility caused by thick fog, said Shah Newaz Khaled, assistant general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Shimulia station.Five ferries with a good number of vehicles and passengers on board remained stuck in the middle of the river.Besides, hundreds of passengers were suffering as buses, private cars, microbuses and goods-laden trucks, are waiting on both sides of the river to cross it, said the BIWTC official.Ferry services on the busy route will resume once the visibility improves, he added.read more

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina.Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed her firm optimism of Awami League’s victory in the next election and the development spree will continue through it.”Insha Allah the ‘boat’ (AL’s election symbol) will be victorious and the development spree of the country will keep on,” she told a mammoth public rally in Khulna this afternoon.Sheikh Hasina added: “We will build a poverty-and hunger-free Bangladesh by elevating its status as a middle income country by 20121 and a developed one by 2041.”Awami League’s Khulna city and district units arranged the rally at the local Circuit House Maidan with its district unit president Sheikh Md Harun- or-Rashid in the chair.AL joint secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organizing secretary BM Mozammel Haque, Sheikh Helal Uddin, MP, and former mayor of Khulna Talukdar Abdul Kahleq spoke at the rally, among others.Sheikh Hasina also the Awami League president said the country witnessed development campaign over the past nine years as the people gave mandate to Awami League while she urged them give their verdict so the party could retain the responsibility to keep up the spree.”Do you want to keep up the continuation of development in the country? If you want it then you will have to give vote to the Awami League,” she said while the mammoth crowd raised their hands in a gesture of their supports with huge applause.The premier said her government aimed to advance and develop the country further.”The people achieved independence and rights to speak in the mother language by casting vote for Awami League,” she said.The prime minister also reiterated firm stance against corruption alongside terrorism and militancy saying that the criminals and corrupts were destined to exposed to justice as the government meant rule of law.”We’ve earned independence through the liberation war and we’ve tried war criminals and Bangabandhu’s killers . . . the criminals and corrupts whoever might be must be punished (as well),” she asserted.The premier said Khaleda Zia has committed corruption that led her to prison in line with a court verdict while “the Awami League and the government has nothing to do in this regard”.But she said the past government under Khaleda’s premiership witnessed unbridled terrorism, militancy and corruption.The premier particularly recalled that during that period the BNP-Jamaat nexus turned Khulna into a “sanctuary” of terrorism and militancy.She said AL leader Manjurul Imam in Khulna was killed by BNP-Jamaat terrorists who also did not spare the journalists as Humayun Kabir Balu, Manik Saha and Harun-or-Rashid were exposed to their wraths.The prime minister said the Khulna is now a city of peace as the government has curbed terrorism and militancy with iron hands while she sought cooperation of the people so terrorism and militancy never raise their head.The Awami League chief also urged the cross section of people including parents, guardians, teachers, public representatives and religious leaders so their children did not indulge in terrorism, militancy and addict in drugs.”I would like to call upon you to look into that where they (children) go and with whom they develop relations and whether they remain absent in the class,” she said.The premier said this vigilance was required “so that the life of the children is not spoilt and you don’t suffer . . . our law enforcement agencies and the administration will assist you in this regard”.read more

Rohingya CampBangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday agreed to begin first batch of Rohingyas repatriation by mid-November.Foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque made the announcement after the third Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on the repatriation of verified Rohingyas, reports UNB.The third JWG meeting of the foreign secretary-level, held at state guesthouse Meghna in the city, was co-chaired by permanent secretary Myint Thu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and his Bangladesh counterpart senior secretary M Shahidul Haque of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.They discussed the Rohingya repatriation issue in detail as there are “intensive efforts” to begin the repatriation.The joint working group members from both the sides will visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday and will have interactions with Rohingyas, an official told UNB.Bangladesh on Tuesday sought updates on what steps would be taken for the safe and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar from Bangladesh.Bangladesh wants to make sure that the Rohingyas who are expected to return to Myanmar in the first batch of repatriation may have houses and other facilities to live in their own villages.”We’ve completed the village-wise verification of 8,000 Rohingyas to know who came from which village. We want to make sure they can start living in houses in their own villages,” said foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali on October 15. The foreign minister mentioned that India has built 250 houses while China is building 1,000 more.”The returnees will first stay at reception centres in Myanmar and then will go to their villages,” he added.Chinese minister and party committee secretary of the Ministry of Public Security Zhao Kezhi and his Bangladesh counterpart also discussed the Rohingya issue on Friday. The Bangladesh side sought China’s role in repatriating Rohingya people from Bangladesh to their homes in Myanmar.”There’ll be a tripartite meeting among Bangladesh foreign minister (AH Mahmood Ali) and his Chinese and Myanmar counterparts where they will discuss the issue further,” said home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.But he did not elaborate when and where this meeting will be held. Similar meetings were held in New York and Beijing on the sidelines in the past months that indicate pressure on Myanmar is mounting.However, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China always believes that the international community should play a constructive role in the Rakhine State issue, and its actions should be conducive to promoting consultation and cooperation between Myanmar and Bangladesh.Prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the 73rd UN General Assembly made three recommendations for solving the Rohingya crisis at its root, including the abolition of discriminatory laws, policies and practices of Myanmar against the minority group.According to her second recommendation, Myanmar must create an acceptable environment by building trust and guaranteeing protection, rights and pathway to citizenship for all Rohingyas. If needed, it should create a “safe zone” inside the country to protect all civilians.Her third recommendation says atrocious crimes against Rohingyas in Myanmar should be prevented by bringing accountability and justice, particularly in the light of recommendations of the Fact-Finding Mission of the UN Human Rights Council.Foreign minister Ali has emphasised the need for accelerating efforts to create a conducive environment in northern Rakhine state and build houses and villages for returnees to facilitate repatriation.Minister Ali along with joint working group members in August this year visited the northern Rakhine State and saw the ‘trail of widespread devastation’ suffered by people there, said the foreign ministry officials.The Bangladesh foreign minister also visited Shwe Zar village where around 148 prefabricated houses for returnees are being built with assistance from the government of India.Bangladesh and Myanmar formed the Joint Working Group (JWG) on December 2017 to start repatriating Rohingya refugees by January 23, 2018.In May, the Myanmar side urged the Bangladesh side to commence the repatriation of the earlier verified 778 Muslims and 444 Hindus.read more

Prothom Alo IllustrationA man was killed in what Border Guard Bangladesh called a gunfight at Hili border of Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur on Friday, reports UNB.The deceased Delwar Hossain, 45, son of Abdur Rahman of Nandipur village of the upazila, was said to be a drug trader.BGB officials said they arrested Delwar with 958 yaba pills from Nandipur on Thursday afternoon.Later, as per information given by Delwar, the BGB conducted a drive at Chenggram area around 2:00am. The drug dealers fired at BGB, triggering a gunfight in which Delwar was killed and three BGB members were wounded.BGB recovered 500 bottles of Phensedyl and three machetes from the spot.Officer-in-charge of Hakimpur police station Anwar Hossain said the body has been sent to Sadar Hospital for autopsy.A case has been filed over the matter with Hakimpur police station, he added.read more

00:00 /01:56 Listen To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: Free images At the Galleria mall, Christmas decorations are up and shoppers are busy.Roxanne Rogers was just starting to shop for the holidays – and she said plans to spend a lot.“Far more than I need to!” she said. This year, holiday sales are expected to grow between 3.5 and four percent, according to JLL.James Cook, the financial services firm’s director of retail research, said holiday sales shrank in 2008 and remained flat in 2009.Since then, they’ve grown every year.“So, not unlikely the U.S. GDP, holiday sales since then have been growing at, sort of, this slow and steady rate,” he said.In the state, the Texas Retailers Association said it expects a “solid sales increase over last year.”Probably not surprisingly, in the JLL survey, more people – especially Millennials and Gen Xers – said they’ll shop online, although not at the rate some may expect.Cook said online-based retailers, such as Amazon, make up only about 3 percent of all holiday sales. This does not include traditional retailers that also offer online shopping.“It’s certainly growing but it hasn’t taken over physical sales as dramatically as some have predicted that it would,” he said.But over the Thanksgiving weekend last year, about the same amount of people said they shopped online as did in stores, according to the National Retail Federation.Cook said another interesting pattern is how different generations plan to shop. Baby boomers and those above 70 tend to look more for quality, while the younger age groups focus on price.“The Millennials and the Gen Xers both said discount department stores were their biggest choice,” he said, “whereas boomers and the over-70 crowd, their by far biggest choice for holiday shopping were your traditional department stores, for example your Macy’s or your J.C. Penney.”Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Ward Booth is in his 60s but he plans to do his shopping online and at Costco.“Online because it’s easy,” the University of Houston professor said. “And Costco because I go there all the time anyway and I love Costco.”He expects to spend under $500 for gifts this holiday season. X Share read more

In honor of Black history month, The Fredrick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum will be hosting an exhibition entitled Baltimore “MASTERS” Art of the Ancestors a salute to historical Baltimore Black visual artists.Baltimore “MASTERS” Art of the Ancestors will feature the visual artists that represent the Baltimore African American art scene. This exhibition includes the likes of the late Thomas Stockett, Larry O. Brown, Sr., William Joyner, Robert O. Torrence, Tom Miller, Pontella Mason, Leroy “Miki” Jones, Elizabeth Talford Scott, Cary Beth Cryor, Larry Stevens, Carl Clark and Cornell Barnes, to name a few. The exhibition dates are Feb. 18 through March 31. For more information go to douglassmyers.org.